In the Land of Sisyphus: Haiti, international cooperation agencies, and the elusive search for development (1945-2016) with Dr. Peter SOLLIS (Former Senior Advisor – Haiti Response Group, Inter-American Development Bank)

This presentation looks at how international cooperation agencies have collaborated with Haiti since immediately after World War Two to the present day. It seeks to answer the question of how, in spite of all efforts to achieve development “take-off”, Haiti remains by far the poorest country in the western hemisphere. It identifies a cycle of engagement characterized by optimism about the prospects for progress followed by a period of disillusionment when change does not materialize. Lessons are not learnt when a cycle ends since increased amounts of financial resources are available once the cycle begins again. The talk suggests some issues for further consideration on the way forward.